About King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is part of the King Edward VI Foundation and one of the Grammar Schools in Birmingham. It uses the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test. Students must achieve the qualifying score of 205 to be eligible for a place.
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 65%. A-Level A*–B: 65%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is a boys state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately None Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The Birmingham test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Saturday 13 September 2026 and results are released to parents on mid-October 2026 (via Birmingham CET portal) — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (None places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys Admissions Criteria
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is part of the King Edward VI Foundation and one of the Grammar Schools in Birmingham. It uses the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test. Students must achieve the qualifying score of 205 to be eligible for a place.
- ✓Register at westmidlandsgrammarschools.co.uk (opens 5th May, closes 26th June, Year 5).
- ✓Sit the West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test (GL Assessment).
- ✓Achieve the qualifying standardised score of 205 or above.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children.
- ✓Boys achieving the priority score within the designated catchment area.
- ✓Boys within the catchment area with Pupil Premium eligibility.
- ✓All other qualifying boys within the catchment, ranked by score.
- ✓Boys outside the catchment area, ranked by score then distance.
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the None Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys)
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 via Birmingham CET (King Edward VI Foundation) |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Saturday 13 September 2026 (English + Maths + VR + NVR) |
| 📌 Test results released | mid-October 2026 (via Birmingham CET portal) |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Birmingham) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in Saturday 13 September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on mid-October 2026 (via Birmingham CET portal), BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys selects through the shared King Edward VI Foundation / Birmingham grammar schools' entrance test (GL Assessment) — a multiple-choice assessment, age-standardised, with a qualifying score broadly in the top 25% (and a higher priority score for catchment categories).
- English: comprehension, grammar and vocabulary.
- Mathematics: Key Stage 2 arithmetic and problem-solving.
- Reasoning: verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
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Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
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Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
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Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys (GCSE & A-Level Results)
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is one of the highest-achieving grammar schools in Birmingham and is rated Outstanding by Ofsted across all categories. It achieves strong results at GCSE and A-Level — with essentially all pupils gaining at least five good GCSEs including English and maths — and a strong record of progression to leading universities.
- GCSE & A-Level: consistently strong results across a broad curriculum.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form with strong outcomes.
- Progression: strong progression to Russell Group and other leading universities.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
Admission to Year 7 is through the shared King Edward VI Foundation / Birmingham grammar schools' entrance test (produced by GL Assessment), sat once for the city's grammar schools. It is multiple-choice and assesses English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, with scores age-standardised; there is no fixed pass mark, but a child must reach the qualifying score (broadly the top 25% of candidates), and a higher priority score is used for the catchment priority categories.
The school admits around 150 boys (from well over a thousand applicants) and operates a defined catchment area across named Birmingham wards (including Birchfield, Handsworth, Handsworth Wood, Lozells, Perry Barr, Aston-area and Edgbaston wards) and Sandwell wards (such as Smethwick and West Bromwich Central). After children with an EHCP naming the school and looked-after children, priority runs through the priority-score catchment category (then sibling and distance) and the qualifying-score category. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is a selective boys' grammar (with a co-educational sixth form) on Grove Lane in Handsworth, Birmingham (B21 9ET), with around 1,000 pupils. Founded in 1862, it is the oldest selective school in the area; formerly known simply as Handsworth Grammar School, it adopted its current name in September 2017 when it joined the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI and became an academy.
The school combines historic tradition with modern facilities and offers a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, including debating, music, leadership activities and international trips. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
How do I apply to King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys for Year 7?
Applications to King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes late June 2026), then list King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Saturday 13 September 2026 (English + Maths + VR + NVR). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys?
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of None places.
How many Year 7 places does King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys have?
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys admits None Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on mid-October 2026 (via Birmingham CET portal) — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys's waiting list.
Is King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys a state school or fee-paying?
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.